The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-08-18
RAILROAD HORROR.
An Excursion Train Runs Into g
Burning Culvert.
Ten Cars and Two Engines Piled on
Top Of Each Other.
Seventy Dad Bodies Taken from the
Wreck.
One Hundred and Fifty Wounded Be.
ing Cared for.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, August ia dis
patch from Chatsworth says, traiI
left Bloomington last night for Niagara
Falls, on the Illinois Central, the in.
tention being to go by that road as fal
as Chatsworth, and from thence BY
way of the Toledo, Peoria s. Warsaw
AS the train neared Piper City, little
town in Ford county, the bridge cross
ing Vermillion river gave way, plung-
ing the engine and several cars down
a steep embankment into the stream.
The cars caught fire from the lamps,
and fearful panic eDsued. On inves-
tigation it was found that nearly one
hundred excursionists were killed or
injured. The conductor of a Chicago
&Alton passenger train which just ar
rived in Chicago from BLOOMINGTON,
where the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw,
and Chicago 81 Alton railroads connect,
learned from one of the cOnduc-
tors Of the first named road that the
accident occurred near Piper City, a
small station east of Chatsworth. An
excursion train, while on the bridge
near Piper City, came into collision
with another train going in the oppO-
site direction. The cars Of the eXcur-
sion train were piled upon each other
In fearful confusion, and from the
shock of the collision the bridge gave
way and several cars were preciptated
into the stream. The conductor says
that the killed number between forty
and fifty, and that the injured are
more than twice that number. The
accident occurred some time between
midnight and O'Clock this morning
A relief train with physicians, was
sent from Peoria this morning to the
scene of the wreck.
ONE HUNDRED LIVES LOST.
Information received at the Illinois
Central Office in this city is that the
train consisted of two engines and six
teen coaches. A culvert had been
burned away about two miles east of
Chatswolth, presumably by prairie
fire, and about one o'clock this morn
ing the engines and coaches went over
it. The agent at Chatsworth reports
to General Manager Z. p. Jeffrey, of
the Illinois Central, that over one hun
dred are killed and about like num-
Der injured. He can give no further
particulars A Peoria gentleman says
the train was made up at Peoria, so
that probably the majority of the vic
Tins are from that city or its immediate
vicinity. Twelve cars started from
Peoria, including four sleepers. At
tached to the train was private car of
the Superintendent of the road, which
was to be occupied by himself and son.
The departure was from Peoria at z
p. m, and the intention was to take
another coach filed with excursionists
at Bloomington.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
A special to the Journal from Chats
worth says: The first regular train left
Peoria at $50. Everyone was sad and
discussed the probable results in &C
cents low. 1t was impossible to hear
anything in Peoria, and many men
and women aboard were fearful least
some dear one was among the dead or
horribly mangled. At all the stations
along the line large crowds of excited
people had gathered anxious to hear the
latest news from Peoria. Some wild
rumors prevailed, but nothing of an
authentic nature could be learned.
When the relief train reached its des-
tination it was a sad and CHASTITY sight
that was brought to view. Ten
coaches had either gone through
the bridge or were piled in
q promiscuous heap crosswise and
lengthwise of the track. The shriekS
and groans of the wounded and dying
could be heard. The bridge through
which the cars passed was a small one.
it causing frightful holocaust. So
far, over seventy bodies have been re-
covered. They were conveyed to the
Town Hall, school house and on the
depot platform. No one has been taken
from under the cars and not even a
sound can be heard from them. 1t is
feared all are dead and the number of
killed are estimated at 200. The woun-
ded 80 far number $50.
THE IDENTIFIED.
The following are among the killed:
Son of Ezra Meek. Eureka.
Miss May Laws, Eureka.
Arthur McCarty, Eureka.
James Blair, Eureka.
Wife and travelling man of Kanka-
kee.
Godel, father and son.
William Stevenson and two daugh.
tiers.
Captain Dahlke.
Mrs. James Deal.
Mrs. William Allen.
Mrs. William Ball.
Susie Ball.
Miss Pearl Adams.
William Reagan.
Mrs. French.
Phena Fraham.
Mrs. Valentine.
Mrs. Valdejo and daughter.
Mrs. Zimmerman.
Frederick Winnett and daughte
Pearl, Peoria.
Mrs Kate Cress, Washington.
Cora Smith, Peoria, fatally in jured
It is impossible to get a full list
Everything is in the widest confusion
Many ara mangled beyond recognition
PREVIOUS HORRORS oUTDoNE.
The Chicago Times special froI
Forest, Ills, says: All the railwa
horrors in the history of this countr
were surpassed three miles east @
Chatsworth last night, when an excul
sion train on the Toledo, Peoria I
Western Road dropped through
burning bridge and over 100 peopl
were killed and four times that nun
Der more or less badly injured. Tn
train was composed Of six sleepin
cars, day coaches and chair cars an
three baggage cars. 1t was carryin
$50 passengers, all excursionists, an
was bound for Niagara Falls. TIL
line of the Toledo, Peoria s. Wester
road and the excursionists hailed froI
various points in Central Illinois, til
bulk of them, however, coming froI
Peoria. Some of the passengers cam
from Canton, from FL Paso. WashinI
ton and in fact all stations along ii
line; some from as far west as Burlin,
ton and Keokuk, Iowa. A special an
cheap rate had been made for the g,
cursion and all sorts of people toe
advantage OF it. When the train Dire
out from Peoria at s o'clock last eve
ing it was loaded to its utmo
capacity. Every berth in the s
sleeperS was taken, and the day ca
carried sixty people each. The ira
was so heavy that two engines we
hitched to it, and when it passed tb
place it was an hour and half behiI
time. Chatsworth, the next staff,
east OF here Is six miles off, al
the run there was made
seven minutes, so the terrible m
mentum of those fifteen coaches Al
two heavy engines, shooting throu,
space at the rate of a mile a mimi
can be understood. No stop was ma